METRO Retail Stores Group Inc. (MRSGI) is set to expand its presence in Eastern Visayas with a three-story retail development in Ormoc City that is scheduled to break ground before the end of 2026.
Metro Retail and the local government of Ormoc formalized a partnership for the planned Metro Ormoc, which will rise at the corner of Real, Lopez Jaena and Rizal streets in the city. The development will house a Metro Supermarket and Department Store, along with food and service tenants and parking facilities.
Site handover and groundbreaking are targeted for late 2026, with full-scale construction mobilization expected to begin in early 2027.
The project forms part of the company’s efforts to expand its retail network across the Visayas, where it operates several formats, including Metro Supermarket, Metro Department Store, Super Metro Hypermarket, Metro Value Mart, and Metro Home Improvement and Lifestyle.
“Ormoc serves as an important commercial and economic center in Eastern Visayas, making it a strategic location for expanding our retail presence in the region,” President and Chief Operating Officer Joselito Orense said.
“With Metro Ormoc, we are bringing together our retail formats in a development that responds to local consumer needs while creating opportunities for local businesses, suppliers, and workers to participate,” he added.
Beyond its supermarket and department store operations, the planned development is expected to provide space for food and service businesses, including regional vendors and micro, small and medium enterprises.
Metro Retail also plans to feature Ormoc’s agricultural products, native delicacies and artisanal goods in its retail offerings, creating an avenue for local producers to reach consumers through the new retail hub.
Sherisa Nuesa, chairperson of the company’s board, said Metro Retail wanted its expansion projects to involve the communities where it operates.
“When we do business in a new site, we want it to be a partnership with the communities we work with. Metro found alignment in Ormoc City wanting to showcase its native products and delicacies. Metro is proud of our Visayan roots,” she said.
The project is also expected to generate direct and indirect employment through construction, retail operations, facilities management and logistics.
Metro Retail said the proposed building would incorporate roof-deck solar panel infrastructure as part of its energy-efficiency measures.
The company currently operates 84 branches across Luzon and the Visayas.
The Ormoc project comes as Metro Retail continues to develop its store network in regional urban centers, positioning its expansion around areas with growing commercial activity and consumer demand.
For Ormoc, the development will add a major supermarket and department store complex to a central area of the city, while providing additional space for local businesses and suppliers.
Metro Retail shares on Tuesday rose P0.02 or 1.89 percent, to close at P1.08 each.